Former Senate President Senator Lawan Blames Budgetary Delays and Bureaucracy for Failing National Security Operations

Senator Ahmed Lawan warns that bureaucratic delays in funding are weakening Nigeria's fight against insecurity. He calls for urgent reform and a security summit.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 6:01 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from news.ng

Legislative Alarm Over Chronic Underfunding of Armed Forces

The immediate past President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, has publicly challenged the political leadership of Nigeria to address the financial gaps undermining the nation’s security apparatus. During a plenary session on Thursday, Lawan argued that the persistent rise in national insecurity is not a failure of military strategy alone, but a direct consequence of inadequate and sluggish funding. According to Lawan, the military cannot be expected to perform miracles when they are denied the basic resources necessary to confront increasingly sophisticated criminal elements across the country.

Political Accountability in the Face of Rising Insurgency

Lawan emphasized that the primary responsibility for the current security vacuum rests with political leaders rather than the rank-and-file soldiers. He noted that while the military is often the public face of the crisis, the true challenge lies in the hands of those who manage the national budget and legislative oversight. By framing insecurity as a political challenge first, Lawan suggested that the current approach lacks the necessary urgency to support personnel on the ground. According to Lawan, the failure to provide proper armament has directly resulted in the avoidable deaths of Nigerian soldiers.

Bureaucratic Obstacles Hindering Essential Resource Allocation

A significant portion of the senator’s critique focused on the administrative hurdles that prevent authorized funds from reaching security agencies in a timely manner. Lawan pointed out that even when resources are allocated, the bureaucracy often fails to facilitate their release, creating a dangerous lag in operational readiness. He urged the National Assembly to work more closely with the executive branch to eliminate these bottlenecks. According to the senator, the disconnect between legislative approval and the actual disbursement of funds remains one of the most significant barriers to ending the insurgency.